Today I finally get to start sharing what I have been working so hard on for the last six months! And just a warning – this is a really long post, as I wanted to share a little bit about the thought process behind the concept, along with all the pictures. There is a reward if you make it to the end 😉

It seems that each time I set out to start designing some new projects, it gets harder and harder. There are several reasons that I find it so challenging – and these reasons do not include my busy 10 month old boy! I have been in the industry for quite a while and have done lots of patterns and books. If I counted right, this is my 26th book! After doing that many books and patterns, I often feel that it is practically impossible for me to come up with something new and original. Plus, add to that the hundreds of other designs already on the market and it can feel like a very overwhelming, often impossible task. Sometimes I decide I am okay with just coming up with a design that I think is cute, but most of the time I really wish for something unique.

One day, while machine quilting, I started thinking about quilts that I want to make – just for fun (what a novel concept ?!?!). My mind seems to wander quite a bit while I am machine quilting, so I use that time to do a lot of thinking (kind of like some people that have all their good ideas in the shower).

The thought that came to mind is that I have always wanted to make a kaleidoscope quilt. (You can click here if you want to see a few images of a basic kaleidoscope quilt – though this page also has lots of intricate kaleidoscope quilts). The basic kaleidoscope shape has a 45-degree angle at the top and a 67 1/2-degree angle in the two bottom corners. It’s really just a simple triangle, but it can be made into some really fun shapes. As I began focusing on that shape, I started to wonder how I could use strip units to make some new blocks. Those thoughts became the quilts in my new book “Angles with Ease” and led to the production of my companion ruler the “Triangler”. Books are a huge investment of time and money, but finally I had something that was new and different. After months of going back and forth, and with too many options to fit in a single pattern, we decided to move forward with production.

So, after all that, today I get to share the strip pieced quilts from the new book! (Later this week I will post on the other projects from the book)

I just fell in love with the concept that such unique shapes could be made from the strip units. In the past these shapes could only be made with separate templates for each little triangle. Then you had all the intricate work of lining up and sewing all those angles, pieces and bias edges. Strip units are so much easier! Each of the blocks requires a different strip unit – with different widths, setbacks, etc. Here are just a few of the strip units from the book:

They don’t look like anything special – but each one has been carefully calculated to get just the right number of triangles for each block, in the correct sizes, with the correct angles etc. My brain still hurts from doing all the calculations! But now that all the math and figuring is done, all you have to do is use the ruler to turn the strip unit into these:

Again, these don’t look like anything special, but when you sew them together, you can make some really fun blocks. If you look closely, you see the kaleidoscope triangles in the blocks below.

The triangles can be sewn into the octagon shape you see on the right, or you can add corner triangles to make the square blocks shown on the left. This means lots of layout options! But, more importantly, I think breaking it down shows you how much simpler the blocks are to make than they look at first glance (which is a very prevalent theme in my designs)

So, now that we have that out of the way, let’s looks at the quilts that are made from those simple triangles.

First up, the cover quilt: Cosmo – featuring the fabric line Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille

By the way, none of the blocks are “set in”. The quilt is constructed in rows, just like the quilts from my “Sizzlin’ Sixties” book. This is the quilt that I think looks most like looking into an actual kaleidoscope.

If you are worried about lining up those block centers, simply cover them with a small circle. Now nobody will know if you centers match or not!

This is just one of the many size options included in the book (which is another reason that my brain still hurts!) There are over 30 size options included in the book, so each design has several sizes to choose from. I wouldn’t want you to have to go through the agony of all that math!

This fabric line is called Aspen by Basic Grey, for Moda fabrics.

The third design – Winter Solstice, featuring Kate Spain’s new Christmas line “In from the Cold” , also by Moda.

I love everything you do, I love the colors you put together, and I love this new book.
Can’t wait to get it and start making a new quilt.
Your blog is the one I always check in on, thanks for continuing to motivate me.

Wow Heather you always come up with the best designs. And your fabric choices always are so complimentary. I’d say that Winter Solstice is a favorite. Very exciting to see all these patterns made up. Great job!

I love Spin Cycle with the circle covering the center. It is just the design that I have been looking to make. You are such an inspiration and talented artist, it’s like a gift when one of your posts arrive! Thank you for sharing your creative process.

Heather, My favorite quilt in this blog post is Rising Sun. I do love stars!! Another favorite quilt pattern of yours is Starlit Evening, which I am working on now using California Girl fabric! I also a Starlit Evening quilt in progress using Artful Home.

What I love about your patterns is that they are unique and look complicated, yet your instructions are written so well that the process of making the quilt is not hard. I also really appreciate that you tell which direction to press the seams so they always butt together so nicely when pieced. You have true skill with the brain of an engineer to figure out the measuring, cutting, and piecing, and then cutting again and re-piecing in order to create amazing blocks.

Wow!! Your quilts are absolutely beautiful!! I’m wanting to make a new quilt for my bed as the one that’s on there needs to be lovingly retired, and one of these would be spectacular! Glad you are able to relax after your book, math makes me ill just thinking about it! Blessing to you and yours!

Oh wow! wow! wow! I love kaleidoscope quilts, but have not been brave enough to try one. I love all your designs! Rising Star would be at the top of my list, but I would really like to try them all! Thanks so much for the chance!

I just love your designs, and fabric choices! I’m about to start on a Spaghetti Junction quilt from your Living Large 2 book. I think my favorite from this collection is Spin Cycle. I love the movement in that quilt! I am a ruler junkie, and would just love to win this new set!

What a great book! You make it look simple. I’m sure it took a long time to do that! I like all of them but I think I would make Rising Star first. Thanks for the chance to win. I really enjoy seeing all of your beautiful quilts.

This looks like something really fun. I love rulers and new techniques. I love kaleidoscope quilts. I think that’s my favorite…the first one. This must have been a lot of work. I admire you for doing all the work for us! Thanks!

You created the ruler and all the quilt designs while caring for an infant. You are amazing! I love all of your designs but Rising Star is my initial favorite. I would love to win your new book and ruler. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

Love them all but I am particularly drawn to Rising Star. I like its potential as a table topper. Thanks for doing all that math. I would love to win but if I don’t, I will buy the book and ruler. Just a side note……I love seeing pics of that darling baby.

Oh my, this could be a book from which I make every single pattern! But I guess my favorite is Winter Solstice, followed very closely by Spin Cycle. You are amazing to keep coming up with all these lovely fabrics and quilty designs!

You have achieved your goal of unique! I love them all, but I would say that Spin Cycle is my favorite. Love the idea of the appliqué center to hide the imperfections. I will definitely be adding the book and ruler to my collection!

Oh, they are all so beautiful, but I think my favorite is Spin Cycle done with Summer House. I am so glad I found this blog. I have already ordered a few of your books as you have really inspired me! You have a beautiful family too!

How to choose a favorite from all those fabulous designs??? I’m always a sucker for stars as in Rising Star, and I love the effect you get in Cosmo so I want to make that one too but I think my favorite is Winter Solstice. Lovely, all of them! Thanks for offering a giveaway- that’s very generous. Now can you breathe easy for a bit or are you off to Portland too?

Pick a favorite?!? Do you know how hard that is with your patterns?? I think Spin Cycle would be the firsto one I’d have to try to make. These really do look imtimidating, but I know from reading past books and patterns of your’s, that you always make things clear and easy. Plus the fact that you have made them so they can be sewn in strips is even better!! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and ruler to add to my collection! Once again, you have produced an amazing book!

Wow! I don’t know that I could really choose which would be my favorite, but if I had to choose it would be between Spin Cycle and Winter Solstice. Thanks Heather for another book well done and for taking the time to teach all of us!

I love them all! I could never come up with a new pattern design, that’s why I just love to sew them. My fav is Rising Star. And I do have a round table, so that table topper would be perfect. I even thought about it as a Christmas tree skirt. Can’t wait to see the rest.

What a great idea! It’s amazing that the quilt are sewn together in rows rather than set in. I think my favorite of the ones you’ve shown would have to be the cover quilt Cosmo. Love the design and the fabrics!

Gosh, it is really hard to choose a favorite, but I guess I would choose Spin Cycle. They are all BEAUTIFUL and such creativity in coming up with this ruler! Thank you so much for your inspiration and fantastic books and fabric (and now a ruler!)

I looked at your blog last week and fell in love with your Cosmo quilt. I showed it to a friend and we couldn’t wait to see how you strip pieced it. I have been in a rut of doing things the hard way and I was so happy to see an easy way to make a beautiful quilt. I am glad that while you were quilting along you let your mind wander into it’s creative niche! Great Job!!

Very hard to choose a favorite! I would love to make Cosmo and the Rising Star, the Table Topper would be a bonus for the Rising Star!! Your fabrics are so “happy”, love working with them. Thank you for the opportunity to have a chance at winning. Di Ann S

Oh My Gosh HEATHER!! I LOVE this! I have always wanted to do some more complicated patterns, but have shied away due to the perceived difficulty. This looks fantastic! I love Spin Cycle and Cosmo, and I’d love to do one in the Here Fishy Fishy line for my 1 year old boy! (I asked my quilt shop to pick up some Here Fishy Fishy and some of your books at quilt market this year, she’s looking into it. If not, I’ll be buying from you online!!) You do such great work. I’m very impressed that you manage all this with a baby, I haven’t sewn anything but a hem on some curtains since my boy arrived. 🙂 Thanks for another ingenious design!

WoW!! Cosmo is amazing! Just like a real kaleidoscope! Amazing work! All these quilts are fabulous and look like they would be fun to make! I would have to put a circle in all the centers though! 🙂 Thanks for all your hard work!

Heather, I like them all. As I was reading through your post, I was thinking that each one was nicer
than the one before it. If I absolutely HAD to choose a favorite, I think it would be Spin Cycle. No,
maybe Sunday Spin. Or maybe Winter Solstice. Nope, I can’t choose just one 😉

I love everything you do but if I have to pick one I like Spin Cycle!! Your quilting amazes me and I still think you should do a video tutorial on your quilting! Yep ~ that’s what I want for Christmas … a video!!!!

Wow! These are such wonderful quilts, I love when the block makes such complicated designs without sewing that’s technically difficult! And I do love specialty rulers with great documentation, they are so much fun to play with. I love Cosmo and Rising Star especially. Thanks for the opportunity.

Oh Heather what beautiful quilts. I love how your mind works out such superb patterns and fabric designs. You are so gifted.
The pick for my most favorite one would be – Spin Cycle!
Thank you for the chance to win.

Rising Star AND Cosmo – hard to pick! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your new book and ruler ideas! I’ve been looking for something for my little quit bee (a bunch of snowbirds in Florida) to do next winter! I can practice at home all summer and be ready to roll! Thanks for the chance to win and for sharing your wonderful new ideas!!

Love, love, love these, and the concept!! The first one I will have to make is the cover quilt, Cosmos. It seems to showcase the variety of fabrics really well. Like how you have changed things up and created some fun triangles to play with! Thanks for sharing, and your generosity.

Heather, you’ve done it again. You have me waiting impatiently for my LQS to get your newest book! I just love Spin Cycle. Making something with triangles in on my To Do list. I guess I found the perfect pattern. By the way, I love all your patterns because they can be made with just small amounts of many different fabrics. I collect fabric on a small scale, so being able to pull together 10-15 that coordinate, and add a border fabric makes me super happy! Thanks for offering all the great inspiration, and for the chance to win!

I have to have 2 favorites; Spin Cycle with Aspen fabric choice and the Winter Solstice. I like the fact that Spin Cycle could be left out all year long but since I am a Christmas baby, my FAVORITE quilt is the Winter Solstice. I would bring this out Thanksgiving evening and it would be out until the first of February. Can’t wait to see the book and the ruler is a given, I have to have it.

Hi Heather, Wow what a wonderful book AGAIN! Very hard to decide which one . I like Spin Cycle in the Basic Grey fabrics, always love Christmas fabrics. But the love the dramatic block of Rising Sun. Multiple sizing is just fabulous. Thank you

Love spin cycle! My 2 year old granddaughter was visiting this afternoon, one of her favourite things to do is “laundry”. I have an antique childs wooden ironing board and a mini iron, she loves to iron her container of left over I spy blocks and then “wash” them in a basket and start all over again. When Mommy says it is time to go home, she says ” No, I do laundry”. lol So Spin Cycle it is!

Your color sense is really amazing. I like all of the quilts even ones where I don’t love the pattern but the way you’ve put together the pattern and fabrics makes me like it. My favorite is Spin Cycle–especially the version with the brown centers.

That overwhelming work on quilt. Do not know what is more beautiful is difficult to decide on one. Maybe Spin Cycle, the one I call the atennción but they are all beautiful. Thank you for your dedication and effort to think about new designs and innavadores Thanks for everything

Cosmo is my favorite because it looks like a modern update of the kaleidoscope block. I can see why your brain hurts! There’s alot of math involved in working with all those different angles. I’ll bet your high school geometry teacher would be impressed!

Heather, these are all such great quilts. WOW, I didn’t know you had made that many books, that’s awesome! I learned how to strip piece years ago, when I made a Lone star quilt. I’ve always enjoy strip piecing the best, and try to incorporate it into my own work. Thanks for the giveaway, the book and ruler look great!

Beautiful work, Heather! I think it’s a toss up between Spin Cycle and Winter Solstice….but hard to pick just one. Thanks for doing all the “hard work” for us because I know your patterns are always easy to follow!

The quilts are absolutely lovely. It’s hard to pick a favorite. This book is one I will have to add to my collection of quilt books and patterns. A new tool — how fun! Thanks for doing the math for these great quilt patterns.

It is very difficult to pick a favourite as i like them all but I think the cosmo quilt is very cool. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I love reading your stories and seeing the pictures of your precious son Carter. I have a little granson who is almost 10 months old so it has been fun for me to see what fun things to expect in his development.

Hi Heather, I really enjoyed the entire blog, and I can’t wait to get started on Rising Star table topper. It would look wonderful on my old round oak table. I really appreciate how your photos show the quilting. That is where I always get stuck. I hope that I win.

My favorite is Rising Star, but I really like SpinCycle as a table topper. Congratulations on your new book! You are one talented person (not only with your quilt designs, but also including the beautiful sweaters that you create)!.

You must have been an ace at geometry! Thanks for the up close shots of the quilting ideas. I cannot wait to get started. The husband goes fishing in Canada at the end of the month; that means I go on vacation at home 🙂 Sewing time is not far away!

Cosmo, Sunday Spin and Winter Solstice. Sorry, I couldn’t choose one. They all look fun to make. I might could even make them look ok with the ruler! I love your books and will have to show my husband this one for Mother’s Day. Thanks.

Wow! I have always loved Kaleidoscope quilts. Yours are absolutely awesome. My favorite is Winter Solstice, closely followed by Cosmo, but they are all beautiful. I also really admire your machine quilting style.

Love them! My favorite is Rising Star, but I really do like all of them. I made my first quilt from your Sizzing Sixties book last year and the construction was so easy – look forward to making one of these too!

Heather they are all beautiful; my first choice is Winter Solstice followed by Rising Star. You are so talented and I follow your post all the time. You are such an inspiration and I would love to win!! Thank you for the chance.

I love Spin cycle and the topper the best but I would love any of them if they were mine. So much done with a little one I really envy you your energy and talent. If I don’t win, then this will be the next book and ruler I will buy.
Well the fabric for sure I will buy because when I win I will need the fabric to make it pop.
Thanks for all the great ideas and fabric.

Do you really think we can pick just one??? They are all terrific! I like them all, but am really drawn in by Cosmo. You have been busy! Book and a ruler, way to go! I bet it does getter harder and harder to come up with original ideas, but you have done it!

Love Rising Star! I really like the table topper I think because I might be able to make one. I just finished a top for Gi Gi Girl from one your books. I turned out great! I’m not sure how to quilt it yet though. I’ve posted it on my page if you’d like to see it.

I love Cosmo, not only the pattern but the fabric as well. I have waited a long time to finally get the time and energy to make a really intricate appearing quilt without set in pieces, and this might just be the one. Love all your designs and your son is darling! Thanks for all your work!

Love all the patterns, especially Cosmo. I just received my FQ bundle of Happy go lucky and Cosmo fits perfectly. Looking forward to the rest of the revealing and congratulation on another new book with great original designs. Would love to win a copy of this book and the ruler, but if I didn’t win, for sure I’ll hunt them down!

Wow wow wow. You have been very busy. Your quilts are just beautiful. The colours you use i just love and the quilting is amazing. My favourite quilt if i had to choose would be “Spin Cycle”. I would love to make this one using the same fabric range you did. Congratulations on your wonderful ruler too. xxx Sue

I love all of your new designs. I have alway stayed away from a pattern that looked like it had some kind of set in seams, but yours looks fairly easy. If i have to choose a favorite I think I would choose Winter Solstice. Thank You for showing so many options, I might just have to purchase this.

Rising star is definitely my favorite, although I like your idea of covering up any mismatched points in Winter Solstice with circles. I’ll have to keep that in my cap of tricks, hehe. I’ll keep my eyes open for your book – I’m really intrigued to see how to make all of these neat designs via strip-piecing! And I love how you always show the quilts in different color options – it helps keep the designs fresh and shows how versatile they are!

I love your thought process. Even though it is hard to choose one favorite, it will have to be Spin Circle. A close second is Rising star. I love the excitement of the designs. Can’t wait to get my hands on the Triangler and patterns.

I am in LOVE! Those are the sweetest, old-fashioned, flowery designs!!!! The “paisley” quilting in the one kaleidoscope quilt is so well suited! The ruler is brilliant and am lovin’ the whole concept!! If I don’t win, I must buy!!! just sayin’……..uber hugs, Doreen

I absolutely love that Winter Solstice layout. Such a simple looking block until you really “see” it. Thank you for giving me options that don’t include tearing out hair after reversing a template. I can’t wait to see if the book has shown up in my local quilt store yet.

I appreciate your thoughts about being innovative and keeping the creative process flowing. As a consumer, I am weary of the same old remakes. I love your thoughtful designs in this book, and the ruler is brilliant. Sunday Spin is my fav followed closely by Rising Star.

I am stunned and amazed at your designs and work produced, and all with a new baby!!! ! My favorite design in Rising Star, but I really love the colors in the one taken outside in the snow. Everything is just beautiful!

My favorite is Rising Star, but I know if I win the book and my daughter sees it, I will be making Cosmo for her! I was a math teacher and I know all the math that went into this, and it is greatly appreciated! Consider yourself patted on the back for a job well done!

My favorite is Sunday Spin 🙂 I love yours and I can also envision it looking amazing in black, white, gray, with any fun bright color. Thanks for the new patterns and ruler 🙂 I look forward to making some….or all……of these when they are available!

I love them all. Rising Star table runner and the Spin Cycle are the ones I would sew up first. I can’t wait to get my hands on the book and ruler. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope I win, but I will be in line at closes quilt store that sells them.
Have great day!

I join with so many others in liking “Spin Cycle” the best. It has the fabric from your Summer House collection. I ordered those fabrics and just completed a quilt for my granddaughter who is getting married in two weeks. Your fabrics and designs make me smile.

It is a toss up between Strawberry Fields and Rising Star, your fabric choices are wonderful and make the choice a hard one. I think with you new ruler, I might have to make both after I order the book and ruler!

Spin Cycle gets my vote! Please tell me, are there more than 24 hrs in your day? You seem to get so, so much done and knitting also. I’m so envious. I love all the photos of Carter, keep including them his smile just brightens my day. My son is 13, seeing Carter makes me miss his baby days.

Boy, that’s a tough choice. I’d have to say Spin Cycle is my favorite. Thanks for doing all the math and figuring so all I have to do is follow directions. Can’t wait to get this book and ruler. Unless, of course, I win one! Thanks for the giveaway…

Impossible to pick a favorite. Each is unique! Thank you for being considerate on how people spend their money and coming up with such different ideas (and doing the tedious, challenging math for us). Very inspirational.

All right, I know I’m not supposed to be envious but…when I read “My mind seems to wander quite a bit while I am machine quilting, so I use that time to do a lot of thinking”, I was. Will quilting actually ever allow me to be so comfortable that my mind will wander??
I am “in love” with all the quilts. I was especially fond of the cover quilt and the star table topper. Fantastic, Heather. Grandma would be so proud.

My favorite is “Windsor Knot”. I really like the joining squares and the chain effect. I just finished a centerpiece from your Diamond Diva pattern. It was so much fun to make, thanks for figuring out all the math and leaving the fun for us!! Your new book & ruler look like lots of fun.

It’s impossible for me to try and pick a favorite. I would think using the Triangler ruler would make any quilter, at any level of experience ponder the possibilities. I can’t wait to take your next class.

WOW, Heather, every single quilt/topper is just gorgeous! This book (and ruler) looks like a real gem, which will provide endless possibilities. If I absolutely MUST choose just one favorite, it would be Winter Solstice, although if any one of these quilts came to live at my house, I would be thrilled! You’ve really outdone yourself.

I’m always looking for round table toppers and Rising Star is GREAT! Love the star tips idea and look forward to making this one…actually…all of them! Thanks for your great binding tutorial, especially loading your needle and using a heavier thread…

I think my favorite quilt design from your book is Cosmo, your the quilt on your cover. To me it has a sort of retro quilt, which is enhanced by the fabrics used. I just started following your blog and look forward to learning more from you.

After looking at your pictures and skimming through all the comments above it’s quite obvious that your hard work and new ideas are wonderful! Thanks Heather for thinking outside the box and producing something that simplifies a complex pattern. For now the Spin Cycle is my favorite but that may change because they are all great!

They’re all beautifully done, there are a number of them that I really like, but I think the one I like best is “Spin Cycle”
The book looks great and so nice that the ruler comes with the book, makes it easier to find patters and rulers when they work together and come in a completed set together. Thanks for the giveaway.

Seems I’m a little late to the party, (the book and ruler giveaway), but I am very excited! I will be traveling from Plymouth, MA to Cascade, Idaho in just a few weeks for a Quilter’s Retreat run by Stitch n’ Snip, Rena Hastings, owner. One of the classes offered at retreat is your book Angles with ease. I wasn’t sure I would take the class, thinking here’s another triangle ruler and really how many can you have? (Facetious here, the answer is gazillions!). After finding this blog and the photos, I’ve saying, “YES to the Class”, and cannot wait to make Spin Cycle. Now I’m off to call around the far and few between LQS’s here in MA to find your book and ruler. Wish me luck!

I like the round table topper the best. I just received a round table for our dinning room, I think it would look great on my table. Going to check out and see if you have any kits for this one.
They are all beautiful, great job

~ Welcome ~

Hi! You have reached the blog of designer Heather Mulder Peterson. I design and publish quilt patterns, along with a few other things. I hope you'll stop by often to see what's happening in my little world!

Check Out Our Online Store!

Search for:

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.